Hooked Up: It is time for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a very special time of year for me and I have so much to be thankful for this year. My nephew Patrick and his lovely wife Amanda have a new son to bless this holiday season. My niece Joanie has purchased her first new home and my nephew Richard Melton has made it through a tough racing season unhurt. I am thankful for these things as they all involve people I am very fond of.

Thanksgiving is a very special time of year for me and I have so much to be thankful for this year. My nephew Patrick and his lovely wife Amanda have a new son to bless this holiday season. My niece Joanie has purchased her first new home and my nephew Richard Melton has made it through a tough racing season unhurt. I am thankful for these things as they all involve people I am very fond of.

I am thankful that a few deer survived this most difficult summers and I am confident that their numbers will soon surpass even the highest populations of the past. I am thankful for the ONE Northern pike that I caught this year even though it was taken while I was fishing for salmon. I am thankful for another season of fishing and of good time spent on the water.

Every year around this time, I think of days gone by and of some of the most memorable holiday seasons that I have ever had. My favorite memory of Thanksgiving centers around me and a very good friend Brian Love at Ft. Lee, Va. We were sent on temporary duty to Ft. Lee from Ft. Jackson, S.C., just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.

We had not had time to set up banking arrangements and we were flat broke. Although the turkey dinner was being served below our barracks room, we could not muster up the 65 cents or so that would cover the price of our meal. We sat in our room by ourselves and smelled the dinner. That was a tough night! If I remember correctly, we did find a quarter and we split an Eskimo Pie. We were able to cash a check after the holiday and we ate like pigs.

I am happy and thankful for my health and the ability to once again share my thoughts with you. I have made many friends through this little column and cherish each and every one of you. Family, friends and the good fortune I have on being able to pursue my outdoor sporting excursions are always on the top of my list when I start counting my blessings.

I plan on beginning my wintertime steelhead fishing expeditions soon and hope and pray that I will be thankful for the outcome. If nothing more than spending some quality time on a sparkling river, I always enjoy fishing and wading the rivers when snow covers their banks. I am saying my prayers and asking Santa for a better steelhead run this winter than the salmon run I got this fall.

Remember to tell those that you are thankful for that you do appreciate them. Send a card or small gift to a sportsman who is spending their time in a nursing home.

Page 2 of 2 - And please remember the veterans in our county. Many veterans are spending the holidays alone. A short visit, card or open letter to say you care will go a long way with these American heroes. Do all of these things and remember most, it is a great outdoors. Happy holidays to all of you and your families from me and my family.

Jim Kilchermann is an avid outdoorsman who is busy giving thanks for experiences had and preparing his gear for those experiences yet to come. He can be reached at jimkilchermann@yahoo.com to share a story or two.